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What to use when taste test hot sauce?

If others have said it was  :hot:
 
try it first on a spoon as just a drop if you don't know what your about to get into yet  :hell:  (you can always fill the spoon up for another taste)
 
or learn the hard way like i did  :rofl:
I found an old pic of one of my early taste tests of a  :hot: sauce   :fire:
 
9jbDmUg.png

oh man was this hot, i couldn't eat it straight  :metal:  at the time i was not yet used to sauces that were as hot as eating fresh supers  :eek:
The rest of it got used in many meals but mixed in with other food, not straight on a piece of white cheddar on a ritz cracker  :D
I could probably handle a sampling like that now a lot better than i could then. But point being: Know what your about to get yourself into. You can always eat more ;)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
:cheers:
 
 
Hawaiianero said:
When I make my sauces I usually have about 5 turns to taste test before my taste buds get completely burned out.
I would suggest starting with your flavor base first (fruity/tangy/savory/etc.), taking into account the flavor profile of your peppers of course.
Get to a close approximation of what you want before adding your heat.
 
 
this is an interesting approach :think: 
 
 
I was thinking the original poster was talking about sampling finished sauces. Guess i didnt read or pay attention oops   :oops: 
 
For me %90 of hot sauces fall into one of two categories "Latin influence" or "Asian influence" the other %10 make up the remaining cultures.
 
Figure out your influence and you'll know what to taste it with ie: tacos, egg rolls, baba ganoush, etc.
 
 
Hawaiianero said:
When I make my sauces I usually have about 5 turns to taste test before my taste buds get completely burned out.
I would suggest starting with your flavor base first (fruity/tangy/savory/etc.), taking into account the flavor profile of your peppers of course.
Get to a close approximation of what you want before adding your heat.
 
 
I was going to mention tasting fatigue. It's a great point. There is only so much I can taste of anything at once. Bland crackers may help with multiple tastings. 
 
salsalady said:
+++ to tasting straight on the spoon. 
 
 
If you have a flavor or style in mind, you should be able to "taste" that goal...or lack thereof as sometimes happens...in the straight sauce.  It takes practice, but eventually you can taste a sauce and say..'oH YEah!  THAT's the perfect sauce for.....XXX!!!"  Then when you try it on XXX.......Yea, Baby!!! 
 
 
I love me some sauce with XXX...LOL...Sorry I just had too, your all lucky I didn't link a video..I think this might be looking like a Drunken Chef night!
 
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